Tile construction for concrete floors.



J. ST. J. NOLAN. TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR CGNGRETE FLOORS,

APPLICATION FILED J'A N.11, 1911.

Panted May 7, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ZPWG?? for.

J. ST. J. NOLAN.

TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR CONCRETE FLOORS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.11,1911.

1,025,536., Patented May 7, 1912;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ffy/f JULIAN ST. JOI-IN NOLAN, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS.

TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR CONCRETE FLOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten May 7, i912.

Application filed January 11, 1911. Serial No. 602,081.

adapted to form apart of a reinforced con.

crete floor in which t-he tiles constitute a mold or form for the concrete when poured and, in the finished iloor, lighten the struc; ture in the tension region; and the .invention has for its primary object to provide a tile construction of this character iadapted to permit a two-way reinforcement' of v.the tioor and to provide an all tile, or substantially all tile,. ceiling or ,plaster-ing surface on the under side of the structure, which construction is made up of a plurality of hollow completely closed box like units, of novel and improved form, and arranged so as to provide the necessary channels, closed at the bottom, for the metal reinforcement and for the bodies or beams of concrete in which the latter are embedded.

The invention has fora further object to provide a completely closed hollow structural unit consisting of parts which can be .cheaply and conveniently manufactured and which are of a form insuring the complete closure of the st-ructure even when, as is likely to be the case in practice, the parts of the unit are not made with perfect exactness or have become somewhat warped ordistorted in the kilnlor other step in the manilfacture. I The invention has for further objects the several novel and improved coiistructioiis,

'arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred `upper o-r top members of the unit illustrating a preferredY method of manufacture. Fig. 2 a similar view of ra pair of lower or bottom sections. Figs. 3 andfl similar views l of respectively single top and bottom sections. Fig. 5 a similar View showing thetop and bottom section put together to form a complete unit. Fig. 6 a plan view 'showing the relation of the units in a concrete tioor. Fig. 7 a sectional view taken on line 7*-7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing however, the body of concrete which has -been omitted from Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 a view in perspectiveof a preferred form of filling block interposed between the corners of four adjacent units.

Like characters ofreference indicate like parts in the several figures of the d 'awings Referring to the drawings, the unit is shown as consisting of what may be termed a lower member or section and an upper member or section, these terms having refer-- ence to the preferred use of the unit in the floor construction shown in Figs. G and 7. The lower member consists of a base 15, side pieces 16 in parallel relationship, and, the fianges 17 which are by preference in alinement with the base. The top member consist-s of a base or top 18, the side pieces 19, and, preferably, flanges 20 at the extremities of the side pieces. The top and bottom members ai'e in effect U-shaped in cross section, although this term is not intended to be used in a narrow sense. The top member is dcsigned to extend over the bottom member standing at right angles. thereto so that its side pieces 19 cover the spaces between the side pieces 16 of the bottom member. Flanges 20 aline with flanges .17. This interlocking of the members in superposed transverse relation is shown particularly in Fig. 5.

Figs. 1 and 2 illust-rate a preferred method of making the sections of the tile or other unit. ln accordance with this method the sections are made in pairs, the top pieces in one machine or by one opera tion, the bottom pieces in another machine or by another operation. That is, the material is forced out' by the auger machine through a die or mouth piece suitably constructed so as to form a hollow tube-like structure suoli as those shown in Figs. 1 and 9'. If the top sections are being formed the die is so. constructed as to produce flanges at opposite sides of the tube and centrally thereof. Cutters arc arranged in the-path of the material. as it comes from suitable manner.

Ithe burning or. baking step. After this has lower surfaces of the tiles. It is supported the dieswhieh make the cuts designated 21, in Fig. 1'. The transverse cuts are made in the familiar manner. The upper and lower parts of the`structures Isevered along' the lines 21are not separated. There will he enough adherence at these places to enable the tiles to be handled in pairs throughout been accomplished the two part, may be easily separated. The bottom sec'gfions may be made in the` same way. In this case, however, the die forms two pairs of flanges at opposite edges of the structure. The structure as it comes fro-m the die is severed along the lines 22.

l It will be readily understood that the structural invention involved is not limited by the method of manufacture just described. Tlie unitsmay be made in any desired manner. It is one ofthe advantageous features of the units of my invention, however, that they may be manufactured in the simple and economical manner described. In some cases it may be necessary to support the double structure while it is green to prevent sagging and distortion. When this is necessary the dies or mouth pieces may be so constructed as' to form the central webs 27 which are made so Weak at top and bottom that when the baking of the tile is complete these webs may be knocked off.

When the units so constructed are to be used in a concrete floorv` construction they are placed with their flangesabutting. This leaves spaces or channels 23 between the blocksl which run at rightangles one to another. The arrangement permits the use of a two-way reinforcement. In Figs. 6 and 7 the reinforcing elements are shown as .consisting of the metal rods 24 located in the channels. The channels 23 are filled withv a body of concrete 25 which also preferably extends for some distance above the upper surfaces of the tiles so as to completely em'- bed them. It will be seen that there results in effect a concrete panel supported on longitudinal and transverse beams which are reinforced at tlielproper places by metal re inforeements, the lower surface of the structure consists entirely of tile to which plastering will readilyladhere. With the tiles constructed as shown rectangular spaces will intervene between the corners of adjacent units. These spacesmay be filled in any For example, spacing blocks 26 of the character shown in Figs. 6 and 8 may be employed. The lower surfacev of the spacer in question is flush with the on the fianges 17 of the bottom sections. The tile structure described is a completely closed bo.\'-like |structure. No, cement can get into its interior.

I have described the structural unit :rfi

to the particulars describedl except so far as the same are made limitations on certain of the claims herein.

I claim:

1. A tile construction for concrete floors comprising a plurality of units each consisting of members Which are substantially U shaped in cross section and interlocked in superposed transverse relation, so that they form together 'a closed box-like structure andformedon the bottom of the box-like vstructure with laterally projecting anges;

said units being arranged contiguously in parallel rows so as to vprovide channels for metal reinforcements andl concrete which are closed at' the bott-om by said projecting flanges.

2. A tile construction for concrete floors comprising a plurality of units each consist ing of members which are substantially U- shaped in cross section and interlocked in superposed transverse relation, so that they form together a closed box-like structure each of said members vbeing formed on the bottom of the box-like structure with laterally projecting flanges; said units being arranged contiguoiisly in parallel rows and so thatieach of said box-like structures is spaced away from those adjacent thereto to provide two sets of channels running transversely with respect to each other whichv are closed at the bottom by said projecting flanges and are adapted to receive metal re. .inforcements and concrete.

3. A tile construction for concrete fioors comprising a plurality of units consisting each of a lower channeled member composed of a base and side pieces spaced apart and formed with flanges in the same plane with the base, and an upper channeled member composed of a top and of side pieces spaced apart, and formed with flanges at the extremities of its side pieces, the upper channeled member having a greater vertical dimension than the lower one so that' it incloses the same and said members being fitted together so that the side pieces of each. inember close the openings between the side pieces of the other members to form a closed box-like structure with projecting flanges on b its four sides, lying in substantially the saine plane; the said units being arranged with said flanges abutting so as to provide two sets of channels disposed transversely with respect to each other and adapted to receive metal reinforcements and concrete.

'l. A tile construction for concrete floors comprising a plurality of units consisting each of a lower channeled member composed of a base and side pieces spaced apart and formed with flanges in the same planeI with the base, and an upper channeled member composed of a top and side pieces spaced apart and formed with flanges at the extremities of its side pieces; said members being fitted together so that the side pieces of each member Close the channels ot the other member so as to form aclosed boxlike structure; said'units being arranged with the flanges abutting so as to provide two sets et' channels disposed transversely with respect to each other and adapted to re ceive metal reinforcements and concrete; and filling blocks for the spaces at the corners ot said blocks being provided with flanges adapted to support said blocks upon the flanges on said units.

5. A hollow structural element consisting of two members which are substantially U-shaped in cross section and interlock in supe-rposed transverse relation to each other so as to form a completely closed box-like structure, said unit being provided with projecting flanges on all four sides of t-he same.

t3. A hollow structural unit comprising a lower member consisting of a base and side pieces spaced apart; and an upper member consisting of' a top and depending side pieces the side pieces /of each member closing the openings between the side pieces of the other member; the. lower member being torn'ied with flanges at the sides in alinement with the base and the upper member with flanges at the extremities of its side pieces.

T. A hollow structural unit comprising two superposed interlocking members each consisting of' a base and side pieces spaced apart, one of said members being formed with flanges at the sides in alinement with the base thereof', and the other member being formed with flanges at the extren'iities of' its side pieces, the dimension of the latter member perpendicular to the base thereof being greater than the corresponding dimension of the former so that the latter incloses the former, and forms therewith a closed box-like. structure having projecting flanges on all four sides in substantially the same plane.

8. A tile construction for concrete floors comprising a plurality of units each consisting of' members which are substantially.

bl-shapedin cross section and interlocked in snperposed transverse relation so that they .torm together a closed box-like structure each .reinforcements and concrete member being formed on the bottom of the box-lilte structure with laterally projecting flanges t-he length of which is in each case the same as the corresponding dimension of the side of' the member from which it projects; said units being arranged contiguously in parallel rows so as toprovide channels for metal reinforcements and con` crete which are closed at the bottom by such projecting flanges except at the. corners ot' said units, and filling blocks which close said spaces at the corners ot' the units provided with flanges adapted to sustain said blocks on the flanges formed on said units.

9. A tile construction for concrete floors coniprising a plurality of hollow completely closed box-like units composed each of a plurality ot coengaging members and formed'on all sides at the base with prolicc-ting flanges, the length of the flanges being, in each case, the same'as the corresponding dimension ot' the side of the unit from which the flange projects; said units being arranged in parallel rows with their projecting flanges abutting and so thatI two sets of intersecting continuous, straight channels are provided adapted to receivemetal reinforcements and concrete which are closed at the bottom except at the Corners ot said units; and filling blocks to close the spaces at the corners of the units provided with flanges adapted to sustain said blocks on the flanges formed on said units.

10. A tile construction for concrete floors comprising a plurality of hollow completely closed box-like units consisting cach ot a plurality of co-engaging members and formed at the base with project-ing flanges the length of the flanges being, in each oase, the same as the corresponding dimension of the side of the unit from which the flange projects; said units being arranged in parallel rows one against the other so that continuous, straight channels are provided adapted to receive metal reinforcements and concrete which are closed at the bottom except act the corners of said units; and filling blocks to close the spaces at the corners of the units adapted to project over upon and be sustained bythe flanges formed ,on said units.

11. A tile construct-ion for concrete floors coniprising a plurality of units each consisting of a pair of members substantially U- shaped in cross section which areinterlooked so as to form a closed box-like structure, said units being provided, at the bottom ot said box-like structuresL with laterally projecting flanges and being arranged in parallel rows so as to provide channels for metal which are closed at the bottom by said projecting flanges.

,122` 'A tileY construction tor concrete floors comprising a plurality of units, each unit space the box-like structuresl apart and pr0- comprising a pair of members substantially vide channels for metal reinforcements and U-shaped in cross section which are interconcrete which are closed at the bottom.

locked so as to form a closed box-like struc- JULIAN ST. JOHN NOLAN. ture, said units being arranged in parallel VitnesSes: rows and having, at the bottom of said boX- N. CURTIS LAMMOND,

like structures, spacing elements which P. H. TRUMAN. 

